The best quickly synonym depends on one detail: are you describing speed of movement or the lack of delay before something starts? Rapidly and swiftly describe speed, while promptly, right away and immediately describe a fast start.
Fast is the plain, everyday option, and hastily adds a hint of carelessness. Below are the groups, a strength strip, common traps and the opposite words.
Swatch at a glance
Best swaps
rapidly, swiftly, promptly, fast, speedilyPart of speech
Adverb (from the adjective quick)Most formal
promptly, expeditiously, forthwithMost casual
in a jiffy, in no time, real quickFastest
instantly, in a flashAntonyms
slowly, gradually, leisurelyWatch out
Hastily and hurriedly suggest mistakes. Use them only if speed caused a problem.
Two jobs that quickly does
Most confusion with this adverb comes from mixing two ideas. One is pace: how fast something moves or changes. The other is timing: how soon it begins.
| Idea | Swaps | Sample |
|---|---|---|
| Pace | rapidly, swiftly, fast, briskly | The river rose rapidly. |
| Timing | promptly, right away, immediately, at once | He replied promptly. |
| Short span | soon, shortly, in no time | The pain faded in no time. |
| Careless rush | hastily, hurriedly, rashly | She signed the form hastily. |
A speedy runner and a prompt reply are both quick, but the words are not swappable.
How strong each quickly synonym sounds
Each chip in the strip is faster than the one before. Promptly says nobody waited too long, which is polite and calm. Speedily adds plain pace. Rapidly raises the speed, often for growth or change. Swiftly adds grace or decisive action: police acted swiftly. Instantly means zero gap at all.
Briskly is a special case. It fits walking, talking or business that is lively and efficient, and it sounds a little cheerful.
Rewrites you can borrow
- Please answer quickly becomes please answer promptly.
- Prices rose quickly in the spring becomes prices rose sharply in the spring.
- The team acted quickly to fix the leak becomes the team acted swiftly.
- He quickly packed his bag becomes he hurriedly packed his bag.
- The news spread quickly becomes the news spread like wildfire.
- Come here quickly becomes come here right away.
A support agent types, "We will fix this quickly." A customer reads that as a vague promise. "We will fix this within the hour" or "we are on it right away" sounds more reliable, because it names the timing.
Choosing for school, work and texting
Essays: rapidly and swiftly are the strongest picks, especially for trends and events. Avoid fast as an adverb in formal prose if a sharper word exists.
Work emails: promptly, as soon as possible and at your earliest convenience are polite ways to ask for speed. Forthwith and expeditiously sound legal.
Texts and chat: real quick, in a sec, asap and in a jiffy are fine. The transition and linking words hub has more adverbs that shape the pace of a sentence.
Mix-ups to avoid
Suddenly means without warning, not at speed. A door can open suddenly and slowly. Visit the suddenly synonyms page for that idea. Soon is about when, not how: "I will leave soon" says nothing about speed once you start.
Easily also sneaks in, but "she learned easily" is not the same as "she learned quickly." Easily says it took little effort, which may not be true. And quick as an adverb ("come quick") is informal, so use quickly in writing.
Opposite of quickly
Slowly is the plain antonym. Gradually fits change that happens step by step, leisurely and unhurriedly sound relaxed and pleasant, and sluggishly sounds tired or faulty.
- The fog lifted gradually.
- We strolled leisurely along the pier.
The slowly synonyms page covers these in depth.
Frequently asked questions
What is another word for quickly?
Rapidly and swiftly are the most common for speed. Promptly and right away are better when you mean without waiting.
Which word for quickly sounds most formal?
Promptly is formal yet friendly. Expeditiously and forthwith are far more formal and mostly appear in legal or official writing.
Can I use fast instead of quickly?
Yes, fast works as an adverb: she runs fast. It sounds more casual, and it does not work before a verb, so write she quickly agreed, not she fast agreed.
What is a synonym for quickly in an essay?
Rapidly fits trends and change, and swiftly fits decisions and actions. Both sound more precise than quickly.
What does hastily mean compared with quickly?
Hastily adds a sense that the speed caused carelessness. A hastily written note probably has errors.
What is the opposite of quickly?
Slowly is the direct antonym. Gradually, leisurely and unhurriedly add shades of steady or relaxed pace.